TVA proposes new dewatering facility at Kingston Fossil Plant

April 6, 2015

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is proposing to design and build a new facility that would dry byproduct streams of bottom ash and pyrite at the Kingston Fossil Plant, as part of a commitment to change the way ash and coal products are handled. Kingston Fossil Plant is a 1.7GW, coal-fired power plant with nine generating units located in Roane County, Tennessee.

The new facility would allow the byproducts to be stored in an onsite, dry landfill. Additionally the proposal coincides with TVA’s previous plan to close all wet ponds containing coal combustion residue, and convert them to dry storage throughout its coal fleet. TVA has chosen Kingston to be the first site to undergo the conversion.

If built, the stream would leave the plant and be pumped to the new dewatering facility; moisture would then be removed, and the dry product would be loaded onto trucks and hauled to an onsite landfill for disposal. The wastewater would be processed and discharged according to regulatory requirements.

In 2008, 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash sludge were released from the Kingston plant. In December 2014, the company announced cleanup for the coal ash spill, neared completion, as the utility completed a cover for a 240-acre permanent ash retention at the plant. TVA funded and partnered with federal and state agencies and universities to conduct a two-year Environmental Assessment.[Native Advertisement] The assessment is available for review and comment until May 5, 2015.